Leaders & Parent Guide

Transcription

1 Transatlantic Council BSA Centennial Commemoration Event of the Meuse Argonne Offensive Meuse Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial Romagne sous Montfaucon, France September 21 23, 2018 Leaders & Parent Guide

2 The Transatlantic Council is proud to offer a camporee at the Meuse Argonne American Cemetery. This camporee will pay special attention to the observance of the 100 year anniversary since the end of the Meuse Argonne Battle. Registration, Fees and Payments Units and lone registrants will need to register using Kintera. Please see Appendix A for Registration Forms The fee is $15 per registered Scout participant, $5.00 per participating sibling, and free for adults. Fees include 100 year anniversary patch and TAC Service Patch. Sgt. York Historical Trail Patches are available for an additional fee of $5.00 each. Payments should be made through Kintera by September 14, The link is Any questions please contact Roger Bo districtcommisionbarbarossa@gmail.com Location and Parking Meuse Argonne American cemetery is located at D123, Romagne Sous Montfaucon, France. It is about 3 hours from Kaiserslautern, about 4 hours from Wiesbaden, about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Spangdahlem, about 4 hours 30 min from Stuttgart and 6 hours and 30 minutes from Grafenwohr.

3 Parking is planned to be by the maintenance sheds. Due to the amount of traffic expected particularly on Sunday for the official ceremoniescar pooling is highly encouraged. Camping Camping is available near the cemetery. Packs/Troops will be responsible for own meals. No open FIRE within troop/pack area. They have one location for an open fire. Water is available on site. While there is a dumpster available for food scraps. Do Your Best to plan on Garbage in/garbage out. It is recommended that units bring their own toilet paper. First Aid and Medical Forms All participants (youth and adults) must have a current BSA medical form, parts A and B, at the Camporee. It is advised that one unit designee maintains the medical forms in one unit binder to be prepared for emergencies. In France, the number for emergencies is 112. Volunteers We will need volunteers to make this a successful event. We appreciate help from members of the Order of the Arrow, Venture Crews, and Scout Troops, as well as adults. All volunteers must follow Youth Protection Rules (two deep leadership, no one on one youth to adult contact, etc.). Rules of Conduct

4 All rules of the campground will be enforced and must be strictly followed. The Camporee Staff oversees the safety and welfare of all campers and have final authority on what will be allowed and in all matters of Health, Safety and Security. Do not bother any of the Headstones or markers at the camp area. Behavior by any participant (youth or adult) that results in property damage, injury to another person, or disrespect to others will not be tolerated and may result in their removal from Camporee. Alcohol consumption and tobacco usage at any BSA sponsored event is prohibited. The cemetery is a place of respect, please let your younger scouts understand how to behave in and around the cemetery grounds. At no times will horse playing be allowed. During the day dress is Class A uniform. Planned Activities The bulk of the cemetery s official activities will be on Sunday the 23 rd. That day will feature dignitaries and official programs. Security will be very tight and extra vehicle movement is discouraged. On Saturday, we are asking Scouts to help in the planting of American and French flags at each gravesite. (There are approximately 14,000 headstones.) After lunch, Scouts can continue to help with flags or they may journey to the Sergeant York Historical Trail to complete the 3km walk and potentially complete many of the requirements to earn this Historical Trail Patch.

5 On Sunday, starting at 0730, the first official ceremony of the day will be the reading the name of every soldier buried at the site. Scouts may participate in reading of the names. At 1100, groups in attendance will be placing a luminary candle on each headstone. At 1600 is the official Commemoration Ceremony and at 1830 the luminaries will be opened. While aware that Sunday is a travel day and some units have a long way to get home, Scouts are encouraged to stay for as long as they can. Other activities that Scouts may be able to participate in is the flag lowering on Friday night and the flag raising Saturday morning. There is also an opportunity to place a wreath. Other Activities During the Weekend Sergeant York Historical Trail bsa.org/resources/historictrails/ Scouts can earn a patch for completing the requirements of the Trail. Patches can be purchased ahead of time when you register online. Visit Verdun Visit local museums

6 Planned Schedule Friday 21 Sept Completion: Check in and set up camp Dinner at camp site 2200 lights out Saturday 22 September Personal Hygiene and Breakfast Leaders brief Placement of flags on gravesites lunch complete the placing flags on gravesites Or Sergeant York Historical Trail Hike unit/pack time 2000 Camp Fire/Flag Retirement 2200 lights out Sunday 23 September Personal Hygiene and Breakfast Breakdown Camps 0730 Reading of Names Begin place missing flags on gravesites Placing of candles on headstones (Units may depart as their travel schedule demands) 1600 Official cemetery ceremony Opening of Luminaries

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